Crimson Moon: How did the band get started?
Jack: The project started in the depths of the Australian winter, on July 4 2012 officially, but as far as the Internet is concerned it was started on July 5 2012.
Crimson Moon: What kind of music do you play?
Jack: It has hard to associate myself to any particular genre. Generally I would call it Dark Ambient, but some songs branch off into Noise, Folk, Orchestral and Minimalism. Hard to say, but I try and walk my own path and this, I feel, yields a degree of originality to the music.
Crimson Moon: How has the fan response been?
Jack: The fan response to my music has been overwhelming! I thought I would be the only one who would like the music that I made, but when I sent off the Demo to some close friends, it all started from there. I never expected the reaction to Altarium to eventuate to what it is now. Hails to the fans!!!
Crimson Moon: Where did the band name come from?
Jack: When I was searching for a name to adorn this project, I was looking for a title that was both enticing and malicious, yet still sounded good enough to easily roll off the tongue. I was on an English to Latin translator and typed in Altar, and in the corner of the page was Altarium – High Altar as a suggested recommendation. Suited what I was looking for!
Crimson Moon: Introduce the band members and what they do in the band.
Jack: I am the only member of the band, as this is a solo project, and I write all the music.
Crimson Moon: Who writes the music? Lyrics?
Jack: I am the only member of the band, as this is a solo project, and I write all the music.
Crimson Moon: And where do the lyric ideas come from?
Jack: I do not feel the need to envelope lyrics into my music just yet, maybe later!
Crimson Moon: What is your view in Satanism and Occultism?
Jack: Though I am not a religious person at all, Satanism and the Occult are truly fascinating for me – I collect books on Theistic Satanism (and used to do the same for LaVeyan Satanism, but these are not worth my time to read) to educate myself in an area which so many people are arrogant and ignorant towards. I also have the Grimorium Verum, one of the most notorious handbooks in the practice of Black Magic. This, and The Devil’s Bible by Myrmydon Pontifex Maximus (Theistic Satanism) are all worth a read. A very different insight into the world from a much different perspective. Highly interesting stuff.
Crimson Moon: How many albums/CD’s have you released?
Jack: I have released four records so far:
- 2012 Demo
- The Forest of Time (also released on CD, very rare).
- Altarium/Northwind Split.
- Wintercorpse/Altarium Split LP.
The first two records were re-released on Southern Blasphemy Records, as well as the Wintercorpse Split (jointly released on Torn Flesh Records) with the Northwind Split being hosted on the Darkened Winter BandCamp.
Crimson Moon: Tell me about some the songs on the latest CD?
Jack: The latest record, the Wintercorpse/Altarium Split LP, was of a very different standard than what I am usually used to writing. They are, I feel, very haunting – this was done to match the atmosphere of Wintercorpse’s unique writing style. Being a fan of Wintercorpse for about a year, I tried to understand how I could compliment that atmosphere on Synthesizers, so I tried to write some songs that turned out to be very minimalist yet somewhat retained an air of dissonance. An interesting vein indeed!
Crimson Moon: Do you have any side projects?
Jack: Yes, I do. I am currently writing for three other projects – a Black Metal solo project, an Instrumental Acoustic Project and an Extreme Metal Project, in the style of Deicide, Morbid Angel and Cannibal Corpse. The first two projects will remain solo except for the appearance of guests and what not, but hopefully the Extreme Metal project will eventually encompass a few members so it can be a proper band. It has been to long since I last played a show!
Crimson Moon: Who are some of your musical influences?
Jack: Definitely Burzum, for sure. Varg Vikernes is a musical genius, I think, and this is evident from listening to Hvis Lyset Tar Oss, Filosofem, Hlidskjalf and Det Som Engang Var. Hlidskjalf originally inspired me to start trying to play the Synthesizer, after all. I would also gladly state Northwind, Bathory, Karl Sanders’ solo project, Wintercorpse, Aberration Nexus, Darkened Winter and Nocturnal Poisoning as early influences. Nowadays, I try not to be influenced by anyone and force myself to be creative.
Crimson Moon: Which current bands?
Jack: Only this one, for the time being.
Crimson Moon: What is the band like when you play live?
Jack: Since this is a solo band, I do not play live.
Crimson Moon: Have you guys ever played in another country?
Jack: Since this is a solo band, I do not play live.
Crimson Moon: How big of crowd shows up at shows usually?
Jack: Since this is a solo band, I do not play live.
Crimson Moon: How is the crowd response when you play?
Jack: Since this is a solo band, I do not play live.
Crimson Moon: What do you think of the US Black Metal/Death Metal scene?
Jack: There are several United States Black Metal bands that I love dearly, namely Xasthur, Leviathan, Mourning Grave and Lost Inside, to name a few. United States Death Metal, at least as far as the Floridian forefathers of the genre are concerned, is absolutely phenomenal. Bands like Morbid Angel, Deicide, Cannibal Corpse and Six Feet Under are among my favorite Death Metal bands ever. True innovators!
Crimson Moon: What do you think of the Overseas scenes?
Jack: If you are talking about overseas metal scenes? I think that places like Indonesia and Brazil have some fanatical metal-heads, they are crazy! Scandinavian countries like Norway, Finland, Denmark and Sweden produce some fantastic metal from all different types – everything from Folk Metal to Black Metal. New Zealand’s Metal scene is also terrific, for both Black and Death Metal (Check out DEPTHS and We Need A Name, you will see what I mean). But the metal that Australia, where I am from, produces is amazing – there are an abundant of metal bands here from every sub-genre imaginable.
To name a few: Crowned, Aberration Nexus, Wintercorpse, adnate., Skullphuck, DISENTOMB, Before Nightfall, Alsvidr, Dungeons of Blood, Nazxul, Konskriptor, Malakyte, Drowning The Light, Striborg, Eternal Rest and Acorea.
Crimson Moon: What are some of new favorite black metal/death metal bands?
Jack: New favorites? Mmm… I would definitely say that the band Ghost is releasing fascinating music, not that they are Black or Death Metal. I am getting into some Drowning the Light here and there. I am also really loving New Zealand’s DEPTHS and We Need A Name, some great Death Metal – very enjoyable!
Crimson Moon: When do you guys plan on writing any new material?
Jack: I am writing new material at the present moment for both Album II and for a Split Record with Entranceperium. The material is turning out nice for both endeavors, albeit a bit strange.
Crimson Moon: What does the future hold for the band??
Jack: Well, writing music, having fun and entertaining people. That is what being a musician is all about.
Contact them at:
https://www.facebook.com/Altarium
http://www.reverbnation.com/altarium
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