One of the more interesting bands I have come across lately are Atriarch who come from Portland Oregon, which is apparently the 29th most populous city in the USA. Their ‘Forever The End’ album is an immersing journey which is a nightmarish and unsettling genre-straddling listen. The group comprise of a quartet who have played in various other bands in the past including Graves At Sea, Final Conflict, Trees and Get Hustle. I caught up with vocalist Lenny Smith via email recently and it seems he would rather let the groups music do most of the talking.
PW: Firstly tell us a bit about how the band got together and what your aim was in creating Atriarch?
Lenny: We came together to create something new. We just wanted to play dark heavy music without being confined by genre. Our aim is far greater that just our sound. Sharing ideas is also important to us. We do not believe this lie that we are all wrapped comfortably inside of. Money possessions and image are not real power and will never bring us true happiness. This comes from love and respect.
PW: There is not a huge amount of information about you out there in Internet land but I keep seeing reference to the other bands you have been involved in. Are you still active in any of these groups or other acts or is Atriarch your soul concern?
Lenny: There are other projects that we are involved in. we are all busy and active within the scene. Atriarch is my main concern though.
PW: I also wondered about your respective musical backgrounds as I am not aware of all the groups you have been in before and Final Conflict for one is a name I associate with a long serving punk band. Is this the same group?
Lenny: It is. The one and only, as far as I know.
PW: Boring question but it’s one I feel I should ask, where does the name Atriarch derive from? Seems like you are battling the search engines with some sort of PC game.
Lenny: It’s about the meaning of power and questioning its source. The game is an unfortunate coincidence.
PW: How would you describe your music to someone who has never heard it?
Lenny: Dark heavy atmospheric it’s the kind of thing that is easier to play for someone than describe.
PW: I was interested in reading and indeed listening that you cite groups such as Christian Death as being an influence. I also found some similarities to Bauhaus with some of the guitar work. Punk is also mentioned as a description on your MySpace page. Can you expand upon this? Are you all into different types of music and do you try to combine them all together in your sound?
Lenny: Yes
PW: Apart from this there is a more evident sound of doom, desolation and depression about your sound. Well it’s not happy stuff and I used the word nightmarish. Where does inspiration come from generally? Life, nature, surroundings, literature?
Lenny: All of this and more. Society and spirituality are also inspirations.
PW: Your music is very ritualistic. There is a bit of a shamanic feel about it and as I said it’s a pretty mesmerising listening experience. It possibly should come with a warning not to drive or operate heavy machinery whilst under its influence. Is that the sort of feeling you intended to convey upon the listener and does it effect you similarly whilst playing it?
Lenny: Yes
PW: Your Facebook page also describes it as cathartic and an escape from modern life, again the shamanistic vibe is inherent. Greed corruption and fear are also mentioned and one can imagine you straddling the eco hippy new age extreme music camp (no offence meant). Would you perhaps agree? Your music certainly seems to convey a subtle message?
Lenny: Good. I hope the message isn’t too subtle.
PW: The album arrived with a sticker for Seventh Rule, who I discovered were a record label. Are you actually signed to them or is it just a distribution deal you have? Has there been interest in the group from many other labels?
Lenny: The vinyl is on seventh rule and available through their bandcamp. We self released the CD and are selling that through our own bandcamp.
PW: Something that really confused me was that the album artwork is completely different online to the cardboard design, with what I believe is an old portrait of a sorceress gazing into Medusa’s decapitated head. What’s the story behind this, are their two different versions of the album?
Lenny: Yeah the CD art is Audrey Beardsley’s Salome holding the head of john the Baptist. The vinyl art is different. It is the alchemic symbol for everything.
PW: Portland is in area that is part of a thriving scene, of course Agalloch are one name associated with the place and if my geography is not failing me you are in the same sort of area as a collective of groups termed as Cascadian black metal. Do you feel any association with any of these bands at all?
Lenny: Yes and no. We are all connected but I would never call our music black metal. It is too confining.
PW: I see that you are quite active as far as playing shows are concerned. Are their many venues and what are attendances like? Are there other groups you particularly like sharing the stage with and you would recommend to our readers as worth checking out?
Lenny: There are good and bad shows. We are honoured to be playing with Dispirit and Noothgrush soon. We love the Bay Area and it’s scene too.
PW: What exactly would one expect from an Atriarch live show? I saw from a photo a shot of vocals being performed with a microphone stand made out of what looks like antlers. It kind of reminds a bit of an earthy and natural vibe akin to groups like Wolves In The Throne Room?
Lenny: We have a ritualistic vibe but its not overwhelming and we don’t let it take precedence over our performance.
PW: Reviews all seem to be very positive and there is definitely a bit of a buzz about the album. Was this a bit of a surprise? Have there been any negative reviews with people not understanding the music at all?
Lenny: I try not to let that stuff go to my head. I’m just glad people like it.
PW: So where do you go from here, any plans for the future at all?
Lenny: More tours, more releases, hopefully Europe…
For more on the band check out
http://www.facebook.com/pages/ATRIARCH/241062512127
http://www.myspace.com/AtriarchMetal
Interviewed by Pete Woods
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