Kõdu Interview

 

For those that have never heard of you before, can you tell us a little bit about the band?

Kõdu started out as a solo project by underground extreme metal artist Are “Kõdu” Kangus (Hymenotomy, Pime, ex-Deceitome, ex-Süngehel, ex-Nihilistikrypt, ex-Necro Strike and many others). Most material for “Unusta kõik” was written in 2018 and recorded in 2019 and 2020. All instruments were performed by Kõdu and vocals performed by Vincent. But in late 2020, Kõdu formed as a full band with members Count Vincent von Arckharum (Pime, Süngehel, ex-Bestia), Kõdu, Samantha Surmatalv (Ferum), KuradiSiim (Süngehel), Inferator (Pime, Süngehel).

You have a new album coming out this month, can you tell us a little bit more about the musical style that you went for on the recording?

Musically this album is a combination of second wave roughness with a modern dissonant touch. It pays respect to old school masters and at the same time offers listeners an interesting approach to black metal. “Unusta kõik” - means “Forget everything”. Production wise this album was mixed on an analog desk without modern plugins, automation or other techniques. What you hear on the album is the raw performance of Kõdu on instruments and Vincent on vocals.

A lot of your lyrics come from Estonian poets of the 19th and 20th century, which poets have you brought into your lyrical content?

Poems used on “Unusta kõik” are from Juhan Liiv, Ilmar Särg, Peeter Ora rearranged for the music by Kõdu.

You have also mentioned an interest in the mythology of home country, can you tell us a little bit more about your interest in this topic?

Yes, I (Kõdu) am personally fascinated by the life of my ancestors and the history of this land. Ancient estonians lived by a collection of wisdom and traditions known as “Earth religion”. It focuses centrally on the person itself and the connection of nature to humans. They believed that everything (lifeless or not) possessed a soul or power of some and rather lived by the law of nature.

What are some of the other lyrical topics and subjects you have explored so far with the music?

On “Unusta kõik”, main lyrical topics are nature's connection to man, the philosophy of Northern tribes who lived in this region.

What is the meaning and inspiration behind the name 'Kõdu'?

Kõdu means “decay” in English. The process of decomposing is quite poetic if you think about it. All that is living once came from nothing and at some point returns to nothing. We Estonians say that “from soil you came and soil you will become”.

Can you tell us a little bit more about the artwork that is presented on the new album cover?

The artwork is titled “Coal burners” by Ernst Hermann Schlichting, an Estonian painter from the 19th century. It depicts three men producing coal for a mansion or a big building of some sort (as seen from the smoke in the distance). This job position was held by mostly peasants and lower class citizens in the 19th century, most likely local Estonians doing it for the Baltic-Germans living in the region.

Has the band done any live shows or open to the idea?

Kõdu did a live performance on 13th of December 2020 on “Satanic Winter”, an annual gig held in Black Magic Estonia, Tallinn. The lineup of that gig was: Count Vincent von Arckharum (Pime, Süngehel, ex-Bestia), Kõdu, Samantha Surmatalv (Ferum), KuradiSiim (Süngehel), Inferator (Pime, Süngehel). Kõdu is open for appearances in gigs.

The new album is coming out on 'Nigredo Records', how did you get in contact with this label?

Our rhythm guitarist Samantha Surmatalv had a contact in the label. In our opinion, Nigredo Records is the perfect platform to expose Kõdu’s music. Kõdu would like to thank Katia of Nigredo Records for the help with releasing “Unusta kõik”.

On a worldwide level how has the reaction been to your music by fans of black metal?

The album will be released very soon, but we have sent it for premier listening to promoters and zines. We have received positive feedback about the production and the approach we have to black metal. For example, moshpintnation.it called the album “mind-melting and forward thinking”.

Where do you see the band heading into musically during the future?

We are in currently in the process of presenting “Unusta kõik” material in live concert form and also working quietly on new material for a future release. Musically speaking, we wish to head to a direction of a more straightforward and mesmerising listening experience while still having the experimental approach with elements of surprise, epic melodies and dissonant harmonics.

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?

Kõdu’s music has been most influenced by the early period of Gorgoroth, Taake, Pest (Sweden) and from the earlier creation of Deathspell Omega as well.

Before we wrap up this interview, do you have any final words or thoughts?

Kõdu would like to thank Occult Black Metal Zine for the interview opportunity, Samantha Surmatalv for help with releasing “Unusta kõik”, Nigredo Records for releasing “Unusta kõik” and Et In Arcadia Ego PR for help with exposure.

https://www.facebook.com/kodublackmetal

Kodu/Unusta Koik/Nigredo Records/2021 CD Review

 

  Kodu  are  a  band  form  Estonia  that  plays  a  very  melodic  and  dissonant  form  of  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2021  album  "Unusta  Koik"  which  will  be  released  on  March  21st  by  Nigredo  Records.

  A  very  dark  and  heavy  sound  starts  off  the  album  while  dissonant  structures  can  also  be  heard  ar  times.  All  of  the  musical  instruments  on  the  recording  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  along  with  the  vocals  being  mostly  high  pitched  black  metal  screams  and  when  the  music  speeds  up  a  great  amount  of  blast  beats  can  be  heard.

  When  tremolo  picking  is  utilized  it  also  gives  the  music  more  of  a  raw  feeling  while  the  songs  also  add  in  a  decent  mixture  of  old  school  and  modern  influences.  The  songs  also  add  in  a  decent  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  along  with  some  clean  playing  also  being  utilized  briefly  as  well  as  the  solos  and  leads  also  being  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  when  they  are  finally  introduced  into  the  music  and  as  the  album  progresses  a  brief  use  of  synths  can  also  be  heard,  the  closing  track  is  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length.

  Kodu  plays  a  style  of  black  metal  that  is  very  melodic  and  dissonant  sounding  and  mixing  it  in  with  an  old  school  aggression  to  create  a  sound  of  their  own.  The  production  sounds  very  dark  and  raw  while  the  lyrics  are  written  in  Estonian  and  cover  the  poets  of  the  19th  and  20th  century  and  mythology  of  their  homeland ,  natures  connection  to  man  and  the  philosophy  of  the  Northern  people.

  In  my  opinion  Kodu  are  a  very  great  sounding  dissonant  and  melodic  black  metal  band  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  musical  genre,  you  should  check  out  this  recording.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Sugispime"  "Kaotsin"  and  "Laotus".  8  out  of  10.

https://www.facebook.com/kodublackmetal/