We are a Gothic metal band from Kansas City, KS. We are a band that focuses on realistic views of the world. Like most metal today, we express what we've experienced and seen personally. Our music has fortunately been molded by members whom share the same views and know how to express them beautifully through their own instruments. We are greatly influenced by all subgenres of metal and rock and are open minded towards those genres and styles. Overall we consist of honorable members who strive for excellence and are very malleable with the little we have.
2.So far you have released one album, what was the musical style you were wanting to achieve with this recording?
The style was simply Gothic metal. It is what our earlier members agreed upon so we stuck to it. We hope to still achieve the recognition we strive for. We did not want to lean too much into the heavy death metal side, nor too soft like regular hard rock. We wanted to achieve the perfect balance between them to demonstrate our ideology of a gothic balance in music.
3.The band has been around since 2013 but waited until 2018 to release an album, can you tell us a little bit more about the earlier years?
From 2013 up to early 2017 it was a constant battle of finding the right band members. We found many talented individuals but none of them were committed enough to stay or simply had other important things in life they had to prioritize, which we completely understnad and don't hate them for it. But the earlier years mostly consisted of the founding members, Erick and Jose, making the music on thier own and searching for worthy individuals to join the cause. It was a long uphill battle for all those years but now that we have the committed members we created a music video, finished the album, and are now starting projects for our new album and new music video.
4.What are some of the lyrical topics and subjects the band explores with the music?
The subjects we explore are the sensitive subjects such as suppression, inequality, segregation, sanity turning into insanity, the release of temptations, and expressing those without voices. We portray them in stories of lust, magic, mythology, sacrifice, and tragedy within our poetry to give them justice.
5.What is the meaning and inspiration behind the name 'Black Vatican'?
We wanted something that would define who we are and what our ideas are manipulated by and “Black Vatican” portrayed it perfectly. It represents the historical evil nature of the things most people consider as “nice, beautiful, perfect, good or holy” and it is summarized into their true dark identity in just two words; by breaking down the fantasy and illusion of what they want you to see rather than showing you what's happening behind closed curtains. Though we do not focus on the dark deeds of just one religion, but all of them, and even political views, cultures, and social constructs. Anything that creates fairytales to distract its followers from the truth. It's all about taking the view of the other side of the coin, which people tend to ignore, and showing them the multiple angles it can hide.
6.Can you tell us a little bit more about the artwork that is presented on the album cover?
The artwork consists of two masks and feathers, of course, but like all masks they hide something beneath. Since the Vatican was greatly corrupted during the Victorian era we chose these masks to represent it. The two masks symbolizes the two founders of the band. The masks are black and white in which represents the views of most religions; you're either with them or against them. They represent a perona that we can express to our audience in which we can ultimately reveal the tragedy and hypocracy of society and help deconstruct any idea and allow it to be subjective. Lastly, the feathers are black, white and red which represent the darkness and light within all of us and the blood it spills within our souls or of others if they are accidentally caught within the fight.
7.What are some of the best shows that the band has played so far and also how would you describe your stage performance?
We've been too busy finding worthy members for the band, strategically investing our finances to the right people, and reteaching songs to our newest members so that we may be ready. Also, we've been mostly practicing and honing our skills to perfection in order to give our audience the best experience possible. But if we were to perform a show with less than a 10 minute notice there's no doubt in our minds that we would be ready on the spot.
8.Do you have any touring or show plans for the future?
Yes, we are ambitious; we will start locally and then stretch throughout the midwest. Right now we are working on our second album and have the perfect dedicated materials to do so. But once we have the copyrights registered we will immediately start playing shows at a constant basis.
9.Currently you are unsigned, are you looking for a label or have received any interest?
Yes, we would love to work with a record label, but it has to be the right one. We've recieved aknowledgement from a few so far, but we have refused their offer due to our focus on other projects that, in the end, would cost us more than we would gain if we were join them. We seek the dream to work with a great label and do this for the rest of our lives, but we want to be with a record label that is best suited for us. So, for now we wait.
10.On a worldwide level how has the reaction been to your music by fans of goth metal?
Amazing actually. We're heard good reviews coming from all over South America, Eastern Europe, and some parts in Asia. We recieved feedback and comments from forming fans from around the world saying how much they love our music. Unfortunately we cannot play for them yet, but those fans are our greatest supporters and we wish for them stay patient with us.
11.Where do you see the band heading into musically during the future?
We see ourselves on a grand stage, backed by the perfect record label, and maybe even a few more members since we are always open for auditions. We see ourselves creating several different albums with their very own special themes and, of course, good times being spent together with fans and as a band. Our ambition will not die.
12.What are some of the bands or musical styles that have had an influence on your music and also what are you listening to nowadays?
Definetely styles such as black metal, gothic rock, and older thrash metal. We like bands like Cradle of Filth, Immortal, Abyssos, Amon Amarth, HIM, Beseech, Metalica, Nightwish, and Wildpath as the main ones to influence our style. Currently we are listening to many other bands but just to name a few we like Arkona, Arckanum, Nefirum, Heathen Foray, Eluveitie and some retro wave music like Dance With The Dead.
13.Does Occultism play any role in your music?
Without a doubt ,yes. Those who follow the path of the occult and are shunned for it are also those whom we represent in our songs. This is due to the fact that some of our members have a long ancestral line of paganism in their veins. Their practices inspire the magic and feeling in our songs and greatly help shape our lyrics into stories; some chants can even be heard at the beginning of our first album. Also, our upcoming second album is even more influenced by occultism so we can't wait to demonstrate our own form of black magic with the rest of the world.
14.What are some of your non musical interests?
Most importantly educate ourselves and enhance our knowledge about the world. Other than that, pretty normal stuff: we love to drink and hang out with friends. We like to cook, meet new people, read, do some paranormal investigations on the side, meditate, play video games, express our bad sense of humor, exercise, and discuss politics and philosophical theories of life.
15.Before we wrap up this interview, do you have any final words or thoughts?
We can be found and contacted through FaceBook. Our songs are in over 150 online sources so you can search us on just about any app or site to find our music. Be ready to relive your favorite nightmares because our music shall revive the lost gothic arts of old and spread like the plague this world needs.
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