He might not be a household name yet, but there are few characters as intriguing, talented, and colourful in metal as Morte McAdaver. The fertile mind behind numerous American alternative metal projects agreed to meet for a virtual coffee to discuss particulars. Amid great excitement and an extremely dodgy internet connection, we gathered to consider the past, present, and future...
First of
all, I should say congratulations on your most recent album, Blacksoul
Seraphim, which was excellent!
Thanks, I
was really emboldened by your review! My
work rarely gets reviewed – apart from Sorrowseed – so to have a review of
Blacksoul Seraphim so soon after it was released was really good.
Now,
you’re something of a self-styled darkling.
Can you tell me how you got into music in the first place?
Really it
was through making fun of music. I was
always involved with music from a young age, through choirs, religious music,
that kind of stuff (although I’m not religious myself). I got into writing stuff on the back of
that. I’m basically self-taught on
guitar, bass, keyboard, and I just started writing my own music after listening
to other peoples’ stuff. Pretty much
everything I do is a spin on another style.
Actually, Blacksoul Seraphim was the first purely funeral-doom thing I
did.
And are
you part of a wider network, either locally or more generally in America?
Well, I’m
a shy guy. I’m a recluse and it’s tough
for me to communicate with communities.
It’s OK with individuals, and I’ve made some really good friends through
music. I’d love to join a community of
self-styled darklings, should any wish to have me!
I think
I’m right in saying you have 4 different projects going on at the moment
(Blacksoul Seraphim, Sorrowseed, Pandora’s Toybox, and Cosmetic
Conspiracy). That’s quite a lot to be
getting on with!
Well,
actually Cosmetic Conspiracy is basically a studio project, with melancholy
music and fetish themes. I do other
things, too. At the moment, I’m working
on the soundtrack for an independent horror game called “Spirit House”. I also did a theme song for a convention I
went to recently, specifically for a production called Kinky Science Theatre
3000.
But with
your main projects, how do you manage to juggle everything?
Most
important is that I have autonomy in everything I do, so in that respect it’s
not that difficult. Sorrowseed is the
exception. Lilith Astaroth – she’s key. She puts in loads of work, like with
publicity and stuff, which is why Sorrowseed has so many followers on the
internet. But in all projects, the main
difficulty is getting personnel. It’s
difficult to get people who are prepared not to have too much creative
input. I mean, I try to give freedom
with things like solos. But mostly they
need to do what they’re told, so keeping them involved and enthusiastic is the
biggest problem.
And, more
specifically, what about touring? How
does that work when you’ve got so many different things going on?
Actually,
our first tour just happened with Sorrowseed.
We just did part of the East Coast of America. There were good moments, and stressful
moments, as well. It was a nice first
try for things like that, but we had to sort everything out ourselves – I
sorted out a van, booked hotels, made it all work. The hurricane was difficult, though. That made us cancel a date in Pennsylvania.
Will all
of your groups continue in the future?
Well, to
be honest – ah, Morte sighs, this will sound
really pretentious – but they’re all little brainchildren of mine. I have a real connection like that. At worst, I’d just put one or two of them on
extended hiatus. If there was one which
was more favourable than the others, for example in respect to money, then I’d
focus on that one. The thing is, after
you’ve done loads of work on a specific band or album you kind of get sick of
it, so you have to take little breaks!
It’s entirely possible that certain projects could “fulfil their
purpose” and gracefully come to an end, but certainly not in the immediate
future.
There was
a large political element to your most recent work, Blacksoul Seraphim. Could you describe this in your own words?
Really, I
was inspired by watching the news. I’ve
always been aware of what’s going on, but since 2012 I got very interested and
started paying more attention. Obviously
there was the American election, which was important, but there’s a lot of
economic unrest going on, like in Greece.
Also, I was very interested in Catholic imagery and mythology. I wanted to do something serious – other projects
of mine haven’t been quite as bleak! I
mainly touch on subjects of poverty and evil.
Listening
from across the pond, I was particularly interested in the cover of an old
English rebel song, uh…, what was it called?
Well, I
called it “Song On the Times”. I wasn’t sure whether that was right – maybe “Song
Of the Times” sounds better, but most
sources called it the former. I’ve
always been a Chumbawumba fan. Before,
it was a guilty pleasure, you know? But
then, more recently, I found their older stuff.
This song was perfect for the vocal range and the simple harmonies and
rhythms. It intertwines feelings of despair
with rebellion and hope. I like to
depress people to the point where they actually do something about it! Actually, in the final song of Blacksoul
Seraphim, Psalm of Insurrection, that
was the main idea – I imagined the sick, the weak, the downtrodden filling the
streets in protest.
All very
well, but can music really make a difference politically? I keep being drawn back to the attempts of
Rage Against the Machine to change the world, and how they decided they failed
to do so.
Actually,
I’m not sure Rage did fail. That era was
good for bands like them to succeed. But
can music make a difference? If it can,
I’m not sure how much. To be honest, and
this might sound a bit condescending, I don’t think people look for messages in
lyrics – that was why I was so pleased when you did in your review. I welcome anyone to prove me wrong,
though. It’s always good to have people
look deeper. I’d like to change the
world, of course, but music alone doesn’t seem like the optimal approach.
But your other
projects have a strong sense of big issues, too. Sorrowseed, in particular, springs to mind,
with environmentalism. Are these all
going concerns of yours?
Well, in
a way they are – I mean, hell, I voted to Jill Stein in the last election. But I’m not as much of a hippy as I was
before. The reaping willow is the main
element of the first Sorrowseed album disc, as she destroys humanity out of
hatred and sorrow for them. The
environmental message is there, but it isn’t intended as activist. It’s primarily just a cool basis for the
apocalypse, inspired by all the Lovecraft and D&D books I read when I was
growing up.
Well,
this is all very interesting! But we
live in a sceptical age of postmodernism and psychoanalysis, and I’m afraid the
only way we can be convinced of your political reliability is by running you
through a rudimentary, unscientific test that I hurriedly prepared beforehand.
Absolutely! I like having my brains picked!
Don’t
worry – nothing too difficult.
Laughs Oh, like “Are taxes good?”
Don’t
worry, it’s nothing as complicated as that!
First up, multiple choice.
Picture the scene. Your walking
through rural farmland and you come across a sack of organic manure. Do you see: a) the future; b) a waste of space;
or c) a bag of old shit?
The
future?! Ha ha! No, I’ll go for c) a bag of old shit.
A new
scene. Your walking past a bank, and you
look in through the window, and you see a bag of gold (very likely in this day
and age, when banks deal entirely in credit…).
Do you see: a? the future; b) a waste of space; or c) a bag of old shit?
I would
have to say, however much I dislike it, the answer would have to be a), the
future. I can’t see anything changing at
the moment.
And one
more from this section. In the average
American president, do you see a) the future; b) a waste of space; or c) a bag
of old shit?
Hmmm… The average American president? What’s c) again? A bag of old shit? And b) is a waste of space. Well, I’d probably say b) then. No-one’s really done anything since
Clinton. They all seem to compromise
their principles when they’re in office.
All very
interesting! How about this one, though? Picture (yet another) scene: you’re walking
through the countryside, and you stop to talk to each of the following: a fox;
an onion; the sky. Which one would you
be most inclined to believe?
I’d say
the onion. He seems like a stable guy,
just going “Hey, I’m an onion, what’s up?”
And
finally, how about some word association?
Oh, jeez!
Don’t
worry, there’s no wrong answers!
I know,
that’s the problem!
Right. Prosperous?
 |
| Phospherous |
Jupiter.
Prosperous? Really?
Oh, prosperous, I thought you said “phosphorous”! Lost in translation, and we're speaking in the same language! The interview is ajourned while the participants - Morte's fiance included - catch their breath.
Jobless?
Hobo.
 |
| Soulless |
Soulless?
Machine.
Worthy?
Tea.
As in the drink?
Yes! When you said “worthy” I thought of the name “Worthington”,
and imagined a posh guy drinking tea!
Sinner?
Pitchfork.
Saint?
Heaven. I know, it’s terrible. I was really trying to think of something
witty!
And finally, Jay-Z?
 |
| Jay-Z |
Sucks.
That was the only question with a correct
answer, and you got it!
Laughs
Well, not my bag, but “sucks” is simpler.
Fine, so
I think we can say you’re politically solid.
So can I ask you what you’d like to see change over the next five years
in general?
I’d like
to see the conversation changing amongst people. There are a number of different trends and
institutions that I see as harmful that I’d like to start crumbling. We’ve gone into mission creep status with
wars, for example. I’d like to see
religious influence go down in a big way, too.
Personal faith is fine, but organised religion is causing more harm than
good. It’s a real problem when people
start killing each other in the name of their spiritual beliefs, as we continue
to see around the world. Also I’d like
to see money leave the political arena.
I don’t like the plutocracy we have in so many countries, and ours is no
exception. I’d like someone sensible in
office – not just someone who’ll kowtow to others, but someone who stands up
for their principles and won’t allow corruption in banking, corporations, and in
Congress itself. There’s a lot more I
could cover, but to cap it off, I’d like to see more people get out there and
try to do something. I’m just a
musician, but I’ll try to do my part wherever I can.
And what
about your music?
I’d
really like to establish music as more of a full-time career. I want to see more people get paid for doing
music. Lots of work goes into music, and
that needs to be recognised – people shouldn’t be doing it all for free. Sure, charity gigs are great, but being in
the habit of always working for free doesn’t pay the rent. While maintaining my integrity, I’d like to
do things more profitably for myself, shows, commission, that kind of
thing. Obviously, I wouldn’t start doing
radio-friendly tracks. But I’m starting
to be able to turn my music into more of a profession. I’m going to quit my job in January to take
it up more full time.
Do your
current employers know this? Is this
sensitive information?!
No, no,
of course they know! I gave them like
4-months’ notice! And if any of them get
to read this interview, I’d like to say that my current work is the best job I’ve
ever had, I’ve enjoyed it loads, and if my plans in life go catastrophically
wrong, I’d be happy to return.
Well,
what more can we say? It’s been a
fascinating interview, thank you very much for the opportunity! And best of luck for the future!
Thanks,
it was a pleasure, and feel free to keep in touch.
And, with my questions spent, the line goes, well, morte. As I drag my eyes away from th screen, I notice the sky has faded to black while we've been talking. It can do that sort of thing, communicating with the dead...
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