October 22, 2024

‘Click Interview’ with Velvet Acid Christ: ‘I Think Wumpscut Is Simply The Best Industrial Musician Who Ever Made Music’

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We’ve to go back on the late 80s to get the origins of this American phenomenon: . Bryan Erickson remained the only member at board, but the ‘popularity’ of the project only increased. Albums such as “Calling Ov The Dead”, “Fun With Knives” and “Hex Angel / Utopia – Dystopia” became referential albums revealing a sophisticated dark-electronic approach mixed with numerous other influences. Bryan Erickson is now back again, “Ora Oblivionis” () becoming the newest artistic creation of the artists’ genius.

(Courtesy by Inferno Sound Diaries)

Q: “Ora Oblivionis” is your first new full length album since “Dire Land” (2015). Was it a kind of intentional break or maybe a case of writer’s block? And when did you finally begin the writing of this new opus?

Bryan: Funny you ask. We released “Dire Land”-remix album, a ‘Greatest Hits”-album and the “Wrack”-single. So these things kind of got in the way plus touring a lot over the last 4 years. The album has been done for a while, but the release scheduled was hard plus I worked on the remaster of “Fun with Knives” as well. THIS IS A LOT OF WORK. Velvet Acid Christ typically releases an LP every 3 years. It’s been our time frame for a long time.

Q: You’re been involved with music for more than 30 years, how much of the younger Bryan Erickson do you still recognize in “Ora Oblivionis”? What have been the main changes/evolutions in your artistic development?

Bryan: I don’t think this is a younger me album. In fact I think it’s a lot different from our older albums; we have Spanish, German and English-sung songs on the album. The lyrics are shorter and more to the point, less long ranting. And the songs kind a hit faster with less intros and outros.

Q: “Ora Oblivionis” seems to be inspired by self-destruction. Can you give us more details about the theme and a possible link with personal experiences in life?

Bryan: It’s about the self-destruction of America and the whole word. NOT MINE.


Q: Sound-wise I experienced “Ora Oblivionis” as your most diversified work to date; a mix of danceable songs and more evasive/ambient parts. Tell us a bit more about this diversity and also about one specific song entitled “Conjuro”, which made me say Velvet Acid Christ has composed it’s “Pistolero”-song ()?

Bryan: Well, I played classical guitar as a kid. So it was a homage to my past in a way. The diversity comes from 4 years and 4 song writing cycles, the album is more like 4 singles. rather than say an album. We write singles now, no albums. still wants to release them as LP’s, another reason why it takes longer now.

Q: The “Deluxe Version” of the album is an interesting release as it features early Velvet Acid Christ-songs, which have been reworked. Tell us a bit more about it ?

Bryan: The old songs were the first Velvet Acid Christ songs ever written; it is album 0. It’s very strange to release this. It was our weakest music I think, but it shows our roots.

Q: I noticed a post at your Facebook page affirming ‘s “Embryo Dead” is your favorite industrial album. What makes this album that special and do you feel concerned and/or close with new bands and releases?

Bryan: I love so many Wumpscut albums. In fact, Wumpscut and were like my brothers. I see those guys like my family, and we were all vibing the same kind of darkness at the same time. Wumspscut was who I measured myself as an artist against, and I will say it out loud: ‘I think Wumpsut is simply the best industrial musician who ever made music. A shame he is out of the music business, he is missed.’

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Inferno Sound Diaries
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