Crimson Moon: How did the band get started?
Loïc: This one man band was founded in 1996 near Pau and Lourdes in the south-west of France. As I am alone at the start, the project started as easily as possible and with the means of the time (before internet), a first demo recorded in home-studio and with good feedback with in particular a participation and a selection to re-record with the help of a drummer friend a track in a professional studio to appear in the compilation of the national magazine Guitar Part.
Crimson Moon: What kind of music do you play?
Loïc: It’s a mix of Goth Rock and Metal or Doom elements, so we can say Gothic Metal or Dark Metal.
Crimson Moon: Where did the band name come from?
Loïc: The name comes from a title of a song from the first demo and as at that moment I did not have a name I chose this one to represent the project.
Crimson Moon: Introduce the band members.
Loïc: Apart from a group period and concerts from 2007 to 2011, I don’t have many people to present today because I returned to the formula of working alone but with a few guests following the albums.
Crimson Moon: How many albums/CD’s have you released?
Loïc: I released three demos, two EP’s and seven albums.
Crimson Moon: Tell me about some of the songs on the latest CD?
Loïc: I want to underline the Doom Metal / Rock facet with titles like “Forsaken Place” or “Her Last Season”, the first talks about abandoned places full of stories and mysteries, these kinds of places that transport you to another era and awaken our imagination and the second talks about the disappearance of a loved one, it’s a tribute. You can also discover on YouTube with “Forsaken Place” two other titles in video clip “Insanity” and “Mina Harker” with images of the film “Horror Of Dracula” (1958), no need to write what it is about!
Crimson Moon: Who writes the music? Lyrics?
Loïc: I wrote all the lyrics and music for this album except guitar solo on “Her Last Season” and “Nightfall” by Jan D and of course the Depeche Mode cover “It’s No Good” by Martin Gore.
Crimson Moon: And where do the lyric ideas come from?
Loïc: It can simply come from experience, life and emotions of the moment but also from more fictitious things, poetic or from historical facts or tales. For example, sometimes the music is written before and while listening to it the images and the ideas of the text come to mind, in general they are more imaginary texts with fictional stories but it’s not systematic either.
Crimson Moon: Has the Covid Pandemic impacted the band at all?
Loïc: Regarding this project and in view of my way of working at home and almost alone or remotely for the guests, it did not really impact me, I keep writing new titles.
Crimson Moon: Do you have any side projects?
Loïc: Yes, a band with everything that includes group work! It’s called Hot Hell RooM and another “one man project” Frozen Arch in a more “Heavy” style as well as the way of singing which is different from here. The oldest and first is Invading Chapel.
Crimson Moon: Who are some of your musical influences?
Loïc: My influences range from Heavy Rock like Black Sabbath, Dio etc… through Goth Rock / New Wave and other derivatives with for example Fields of Nephilim, The Cult, The Sisters Of Mercy, Depeche Mode, Christian Death, Killing Joke etc… or more metal stuff like Type O Negative, Tiamat, Paradise Lost, Metallica etc… and finally classical and baroque music with for example Purcell, Haendel, Sibelius, Vivaldi and many others!
Crimson Moon: If you weren’t in this band would you still be involved in the music industry?
Loïc: It’s an artistic expression, an outlet and a passion, difficult to do without. Personally, composing and writing is as vital as eating!
Crimson Moon: As a musician what advice can you give to fellow musician just starting out?
Loïc: I don’t know if I am in a good position to give advice because it is not really my thing, everyone traces their path as they see fit! but at least keep the flame, the passion, be self-critical and work to continuously improve and above all to love it!
Crimson Moon: What does the future hold for the band?
Loïc: I’m composing new things for a new opus, five titles are already composed, there will be a little more neo lyrical choirs in bass baritone to give a liturgical but also epic side in this Goth Rock Metal and Doom. Everything will be recorded at home in France but the mastering in Los Angeles by Maor Appelbaum (Therion, The Mission, Christian Death, Candlemass, APHND etc…) and with all that needs to be done outside and around, I’ll be busy!
Contact them at:
https://invadingchapel.bandcamp.com/
https://www.facebook.com/invadingchapel/
