Today we’d like to introduce you to Lord Of Horns.
Lord of Horns, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I discovered heavy metal around the age of 16 and I immediately connected with it. The speed and aggression resonated with me. I was a fan of horror since a small age, so many of the tropes associated with metal I already enjoyed. At that age I was pursuing acting, so I was naturally drawn to bands like KISS, Alice Cooper, and King Diamond. I decided to try my hand at music, and I bought my first bass after working all summer.
By the time I was 18 and had a car, I discovered black metal when I visited rare and dying record stores. I knew instantly this was the music I was meant to write. It was aggressive and even faster than the thrash metal I already loved, but with a terrifying atmosphere and ambiance. The progenitors of the music wore corpsepaint and looked the way their music sounded. These bands were the complete package.
In or around 2005, I began a project with a phenomenal self-taught keyboard player. We both loved horror and wrote horrifying songs together. After picking up a guitar player, we landed on the name Acryptylyse. Through many line-up changes, I was the only consistent member of the band. I released a terrible first album at a time when I was the only member of the band. When I worked on the second album, I decided on a different approach – working with each member separately until the very end of production. This gave me more control and faster recording times.
After the release of Oktober Myst, life happened and I went on a musical hiatus for almost a decade. Although, I would still work on music whenever the opportunity arose. In 2016 or 17, I joined Exinfernum, a local death/black metal band as my first step back into music. Then, I created a project with my girlfriend at the time that was an amalgam of black metal, goth, and industrial. When that relationship ran its course, I started working on what I had always thought of as the 3rd Acryptylyse album. I decided not to release it under that name for a couple reasons: first, it was essentially a solo album; and second, I had been know as Lord of Horns in the local metal scene for a few years at that point.
In August 2022, I released “The Forest at Dusk” and since then I’ve been playing shows and continuing to write music as a solo act.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Of course not. There’s been plenty of struggles. Being a solo artist, I have to be every member of the band, I have to front all the costs for merchandise, promotion, touring, and gear. Not only do I write and record all the music, I create the art, design, and layout for my releases. As for playing shows, I’m the only one driving, loading, unloading, setting up and striking my gear – and no matter how tired I am, I have to put on a stellar performance so that my act is not boring and audiences take me seriously.
Even the post-production work on the music can be grueling. Going back and forth between mixing and mastering for weeks, critically analyzing and the endless tweaking drains the life out of you.
Eventually, it does pay off.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
Musically, I like riffs and melodies and I think that has been lost in contemporary music. So, I have a heavy focus on featuring riffs and melodies that are brutal, tense, and eerie. My work is known for its soundscapes that paint images of horror in the listener’s mind.
I’ve accomplished a lot with this project, especially on a personal level, however what I’m most proud of is that other metalheads connect with my abominable creations!
I’ve made friends with other great and legendary bands, but what I see that sets me apart is my aim to evoke terror from the audience. Every riff and every chord progression is scrutinized on whether or not it induces fear, dread, or a general state of uneasiness. I use crescendos and sudden changes much like in horror films to build suspense and lure the audience into jump scares. The music paints the setting and the lyrics tell a tale. I don’t see many other acts with these intentions.
Are there any important lessons you’ve learned that you can share with us?
Throughout life in general, my most important lesson learned is to keep going no matter the odds. Nothing will ever happen if you stop. Maintaining perseverance is the only way to succeed, even when you’re drained, or you feel like you aren’t going anywhere. Things build slowly, then fast. I didn’t expect to tour only a few months after releasing my first record. But after opening a festival, I was offered to play another in California, which initiated a west coast tour. That gave me the experience to book more tours for other bands and be their tour manager on top of a supporting act. Each accomplishment builds on the previous.
Take this advice with caution, however. If you actually suck, you should then move on to something else…
Contact Info:
- Website: https://lordofhorns.bandcamp.com
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/lordofhorns
- Facebook: https://facebook.com/lordofhorns
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@lordofhorns
