LUNA AD NOCTUM – Interview with Adrian Nefarious

Since the birth of mankind, humans have always been fascinated with the moon, in particular the full moon. The moon has kept ancient and modern primitive societies enthralled by its supernatural aura. Modern societies of today understand that the moon is nothing but a massive rock in our planet’s orbit. Regardless, many educated people still believe that the full moon makes people act crazy. In fact, the word “lunatic” comes from the word lunar, another term for the moon. Poland’s LUNA AD NOCTUM found the moon so enchanting; they named their band after it. Chief songwriter, bassist, and vocalist of the band, Adrian Nefarious turned his eyes away from the moons’ enchanting rays long enough to discuss with Metal Centre his band’s name as well as other topics of pure lunacy.

First of all, what does your name mean in English? How did you come up with this name? Do you feel this name aptly represents your music?

Luna Ad Noctum is taken from Latin, in English it means “moon towards deep darkness.” We came up this name in 1997, inspired by magnificent lunar eclipse, indulging in its sublime and remarkable magic. You can say that our music has developed in some other kinds of metal structure, it’s true, but apparently we still keep in our heart this feeling, carrying on our evil job.

You recently released “The Perfect Evil in Mortal.” How do you feel about the final product?

To be honest with you, we feel very happy of this album. We’d like to make our sound much more raw, evil and black than it was on our previous opus “Sempiternal Consecration”. We’ve made it, so finally we did good job. I think.

I hear a definite musical progression with “The Perfect Evil in Mortal.” It has a more professional feel to it than the previous album “Sempiternal Consecration.” The symphonic elements and vocal effects seem more prevalent on your newest album. Were you going for something different on each album?

Basically, our aim was to find a good balance between guitars and keyboards and also figure the drums sound much more diabolical. Our wish was to make as evil and impure sound as is possible. We decided that we couldn’t obtain similar sound album like it was on “Sempiternal Consecration” album, because that kind of sound doesn’t fit to our music at all. Therefore, we put some sulphur to evoke the spirit of “The Perfect Evil In Mortal” in reverence to the classic of black metal genre. We also took care about some specific invention making the sound more attractive. In my opinion, it sounds pretty good, don’t you think? (laughs.)

I hear DIMMU BORGIR and OLD MAN’S CHILD influences on your latest album. Was this your intention?

I can’t understand why people mention DIMMU BORGIR every time they listen to our albums. It’s strange ‘cause none of us listen to Dimmu. I suppose the keyboard arrangement might be similar, and can emerge such a feeling, but guitars structure doesn’t seem like DIMMU or OMCH. Anyway, as far as me, it’s an honor to be comparing to the best! (laughs.)

Why did you decide to cover the SAMAEL song “Into the Pentagram” on “Sempiternal Consecration?”

We decided to put the SAMAEL cover on the previous album “Sempiternal Conseceration” as a big honor and hail to our fans. Every time we play this track live, people get furious and pretty crazy! We play this track at every show, making our fans hungry for more! That is why we finally made the decision to record this cover as a track on our 2nd album.

Flumen is your session’s keyboardist on both of the last albums. Because of the heightened role keys play in your last album and the fact that he has played on two albums, do you see him becoming a full-time member?

Flumen is our friend, a professional who helps us any time we need a hand. He is also a member of two polish famous metal bands. Unfortunately, his will is to be only as a session keyboard player, ‘cause the family life is certainly much more important. We used to force him to be part of our Lunatic freaks but he rather wants to stay in his private shadow, anyway we really understand and appreciate that. I hope we will cooperate together in order to prepare another album in near future!

“The Perfect Evil in Mortal” is the second album released through Metal Mind Productions. Will you release any more albums through this label?

Yes, certainly this is our 2nd album release by MMP, the 3rd one generally. I’m not sure if we’d like to cooperate with MMP for another album release. We’ll see. It depends on their effort and engagement in making our new album promotion. Now we’re free because our contract has already expired so if something better will appear, we might focus away from this label.

LUNA AD NOCTUM recorded the last two albums at Hertz studios. How do you feel about the job this studio has done on both albums? Are you going to use this studio again?

Hertz members are the most professional we have ever seen. They know very well about our vision and conceptions. They can find themselves very easy to meet our ideas and inventions, being opened for every proposals and suggestions. I’m sure we will get their help again regarding the next LUNA AD NOCTUM albums.

You are portrayed in a supernatural, ghostly light in your band pictures on your web site. Who was your photographer/artist? What was your role in this photo shoot?

Our photos were taken during the session for the 3rd . Our friends helped us to prepare everything in order to make good stuff. When photos were ready, we asked our friend Tomasz Maronski, who is a computer graphic designer, to put some supernatural, diabolical feeling in it. He took care about our web site graphic and layout cover too.

LUNA AD NOCTUM hails from Poland. Do you have much of a metal scene in your area?

I can surely say that we have one of the strongest metal scenes in the world. Here are so many good metal bands, very good, known bands, doing excellent job. Unfortunately, we live in a strange country so it’s so fuckin’ difficult to get through. We can only be proud being a solid part of European metal scene.

BEHEMOTH is becoming one of the biggest black/death metal bands in the world. Did their success help the extreme metal scene in Poland grow?

BEHEMOTH is one of the greatest metal band ever! Their success is only developed by themselves. Thanks to them, many European labels and agencies decided to focus on Polish metal scene in order to catch some valuable metal bands. I think it could have had a positive influence somehow anyway.

I read on your website that you played a festival. Can you give our readers some details about that festival you played?

The festival was called Dark Castle III. It was the 3rd edition, held usually near our city. This year we invited great bands, from various metal music background. From gothic through black and death metal, it was pretty good. The weather was fucked up but we had fun anyway. The 4th edition is next year, please feel free to come!

LUNA AD NOCTUM played the first ever Black Diamonds tour. How did that tour go? Who were some of the bands that participated in that tour?

It was long time ago. There were three really good bands : ASGARD , HERMH, and LUNA AD NOCTUM. We played nine shows across Poland. All I can say: it was a lot of fun and remarkable people. We wish to take part in such a great event again. As far as I remember, we made an oath to prepare another edition this year together, but unfortunately it is quite impossible, maybe next year? We will see.

After the release of “Sempiternal Consecration” you offered support to CANNIBAL CORPSE in Poland? How do you feel about having opened for one of the greatest death metal bands ever?

We played two gigs supporting CANNIBAL CORPSE in Poland. We were proud having such an opportunity to participate in such fuckin’ great shows with a death metal legend. The idea of the performance was not so good due to the differences between the music style and image. Anyway, we managed very well. We got drunk with Corpse Grinder after, very nice person by the way. I think sharing the stage with such a band like them is an enormous experience.

Now that you have completed your 3rd full-length album, what do you plan on doing next?

We’re preparing to take part in a tour across Poland soon, then we’d like to play some gigs abroad. At the moment, we must focus on promotion as much as it’s possible. We’re motivated so “The Perfect evil In Mortal” is our step forward! Wish us luck (laughs).

www.lunaadnoctum.com