1.For those that have never heard of you before, can you tell us a little bit about the band?
AKANTOPHIS is a group of four friends from central Germany. We play our interpretation of black metal - well-dosed chaos, paired with aggression, presented in an atmospheric guise. We have been friends since our youth and are lucky enough to be able to rehearse together locally. Some of us were already musically active before 1998/1999.
2.You have your first full length coming out in April, musically how does it differ from the stuff you have released in the past?
The approach today is more structured / clearer. Everyone contributes their strengths and is respected. We can confidently say that we have grown as people and as musicians - this is reflected in the new disc. If we compare the first release from 2001 - Galaria: Terra@ Exitus - with today's disc, our music was a little simpler and less diversified back then. We were very well prepared for ‘Erneuerung’ and were able to record the songs live in the studio, i.e. guitar, bass and drums recorded their tracks simultaneously. This created an organic and, for us, good atmosphere on the album. The production facilities were also great in the end and we were able to concentrate solely on the music for a week.
3. The band has been around since 1999 but so far very little material has been released, can you tell us a little bit more about the long gaps in between releases?
After 2001 followed a live recording of four new songs in 2003. Unfortunately we never recorded these songs professionally. In 2004 AKANTOPHIS took a long break. Personal reasons as a cause and the exploration of further musical depths (e.g. with HIDDEN IN THE FOG, THROAT CUT or PSYKRA) filled this time. In April 2017, we got back together in a slightly different line-up and started working on songwriting. 2018 with the 7 inch. Vinyl ‘Wiederkehr’ and with ‘EXITUS XX’ (MCD) followed in 2020 a musical conclusion with the ‘old’. It also forms the bridge to the current album.
4 .What are some of the lyrical topics and subjects the band has explored so far with the music?
We illuminate the abysses of human behaviour and put our finger in the wounds of the past and present. We also incorporate some of our own experiences / strokes of fate into our compositions.
5.What is the meaning and inspiration behind the name 'Akantophis'?
The name means death adder in a slightly modified spelling. Poisonous snakes which are mainly found in Australia. It seemed a suitable name for our band.
6.Can you tell us a little bit more about the artwork that is presented on the new album cover?
The cover reflects the style of the music with its impenetrable atmosphere. There is a direct focus, but no tangible depth; everything floats. The image is divided into different levels, which are lost in a single point.
The insect ‘Schlehengeistchen’ is rigid in its posture, waiting with its gaze also knowing and superior. It knows the next step and is a connection to its world.
7.What are some of the best shows that the band has played so far and also how would you describe your stage performance?
For example, we played good shows in clubs in Berlin, Magdeburg and Ilsenburg with bands of different musical orientations - M:40 (SWE); Torturised ; Drill Star Autopsy and Abglanz.
In addition to a transparent and powerful sound, our aim live is to create an oppressive and captivating atmosphere - to take people with us. We realise that our songs need a little time to open them up - live, this can usually be conveyed well thanks to the different levels.
8.Do you have any touring or show plans once the new album is released?
We'll be playing a few selected gigs - some of them are already being planned for 2026. In any case, we'll be playing at the Protzen Open Air in June - and there will certainly be more gigs planned at short notice in autumn. We're looking forward to it.
9. On a worldwide level how has the reaction been to your music by fans of black metal?
The previous releases have mainly found an audience in Germany and Europe - the feedback so far has been mostly positive and has confirmed us in our work. We believe we can now draw a wider circle with this album - worldwide networking is certainly easier today than it was in 2001.
10. Where do you see the band heading into musically during the future?
Basically, we are always evolving. Even if we won't give up our raw roots influenced by the 90s spirit, there is a constant development taking place. In the second half of the current album, the atmospheric area is a bit more pronounced - we can't predict a concrete direction for the future at the moment. We love playing with aggression and atmosphere - we will continue to work on this.
11.What are some of the bands or musical styles that have had an influence on your music and also what are you listening to nowadays?
We grew up musically in the early 90s. Both death metal and second wave black metal influenced us a lot. Many of our favourites are from that time. Dismember, Sinister, Dissection, Mayhem, Immortal and Ved Buens Ende to name just a few. Metal classics such as Deep Purple or Black Sabbath also feature. In addition, we also hear different directions beyond the boundaries of metal.
12. Before we wrap up this interview, do you have any final words or thoughts?
Thank you for the interview and the interest in our music - all the best and we look forward to seeing you out there.
https://akantophis.bandcamp.com/music
https://www.instagram.com/akantophis/