Interview: Deus Mortem

Interview by Jeger

Poland’s Deus Mortem – a proud addition to the renowned Polish Black Metal scene – was birthed by Satan’s whore on some blasphemous eve in 2008. Deus Mortem has continued the proud traditions of said scene that were established by bands such as Graveland, Infernum and Thunderbolt, but with more vision and more artistic maturity. Their journey has been marked by the personal experiences and woes of the band’s founder: the disintegration of illusion, the inevitable standoff with mortality that comes with age and personal growth & development as rooted in Satanism.

Thanatos is the Greek God of death, namely non-violent or slow death – the kind of inglorious deterioration that Dissection’s Jon Nödtveidt chose to forego by taking his own life at his peak as life’s orgasm. But for those of us who choose to linger, we must submit to the reality of our own inevitable wasting away… Deus Mortem has recently released their latest album, “Thanatos”, to the enthrallment of critics and enthusiasts. This record milestone is a daring shift in the style of the band: more soul, more melody, and more tranquility, as opposed to the highly aggressive material of Deus Mortem’s past.

Deus Mortem has respectfully explored several Occult themes from Satanism to Jewish Mysticism. The former is a way of life based on intuition and Into the latter has been more of a curiosity-based excursion when compared to the studious nature of adepts like Serpent Noir and Thy Darkened Shade who’ve dedicated much of their craft to this particular school of Occultism. For DM, their art boils down to the craft of songwriting and the art of engineering; properly designed and appropriately recorded black metal. During my latest interview for This Is Black Metal, Necrosodom of Deus Mortem provides some background on the band, a look into his views on Christianity, some insight into Kabbalah and a lens into his Satanically influenced way of life and recording music.

This Is Black Metal: Hails and welcome to This Is Black Metal. Deus Mortem formed one year after the disbandment of Thunderbolt. I realize that the two may be worlds apart, but how would you describe the Deus Mortem era when compared to the Thunderbolt days?  

Necrosodom: I created Deus Mortem in December 2008 as my solo project, as a completely new and independent entity and there was never any question of a sequel or digging a corpse out of the ground. In May 2009 I invited Inferno from Behemoth/Azarath to join me and together we were the only full-time members of Deus Mortem until 2013. That year Thunderbolt ex-drummer Stormblast joined the band.

I spent less than four years in Thunderbolt, but I remember it as one of the most valuable experiences on my musical path. We spread chaos, and there was a fanatical dedication to everything we did. It was probably that atmosphere that resulted in the creation of such good albums. If it’s to my approach, Deus Mortem was already a more mature and conscious creation in all aspects from the very beginning.  

Deus Mortem

TIBM: Do you still hold the same passionate hatred for Christianity that you did in your youth?  

Necrosodom: No, I don’t give a fuck about christianity. I don’t waste my time on the almost dead ideas that mean nothing to me and don’t affect my life. I prefer to focus on my personal and artistic growth instead of drowning in the shit of this world.  

TIBM: Deus Mortem is a Satanic Black Metal band and one of the most genuine in that regard. Many forms of Satanism are practiced all over the world. From which sect of Satanism do you draw inspiration for not only Deus Mortem but for life in general?  

Necrosodom: I don’t need any leaders in my life, and I don’t pay attention to sects. Anyone who tries to give me a ready-made value system is my enemy, so I don’t follow any restrictive path set by others. I know my path, and the only light upon it is my experience, consciousness and intuition.

TIBM: LaVeyan Satanism is popular over here in The States. I personally find these people detestable. How do you feel about LaVeyan “Satanism”?  

Necrosodom: Any breath of free thought that awakens human consciousness – physical, mental, or spiritual – can be an inspiration. I think the Church of Satan initially did a good job of sticking its godless finger into the holy water of society, but like any institution, it eventually falls into decay. I currently have no friends who are associated with them, and I don’t particularly follow what the movement is doing today. It’s not my thing.  

TIBM: It’s said that Deus Mortem also draws inspiration from Jewish Mysticism. I’ve done some reading into Qliphoth and I found it fascinating as it provides a blueprint for creation as illustrated by the Tree of Life and the Tree of Death. I also found the concept of opposing forces against creation to be puzzling. Why oppose creation?  

Necrosodom: Sometimes we draw inspiration from Kabbalah, but it is not a kind of leading spiritual path for us. We descend into that matter with curiosity and respect as to other esoteric systems. In my opinion, this concept is not about finding meaning in just opposing creation, but rather about the mutual existence of oppositely polarised aspects of the same phenomena. This is the key to tasting the fruits of divinity from both trees, to seek the knowing on both sides of your soul – in the light and the darkness.  

TIBM: Now, let’s get into the music. The new LP, “Thanatos”, seems like new territory for Deus Mortem. Thanatos is the Greek god of death, namely non-violent death. How does Thanatos play into the concept of the album?  

Necrosodom: This album was previously titled “αργός θάνατος” (Argos Thanatos), which means “slow death”. With this term, I mean the persistence in illusion, which over the years causes our inner death, the fading glow of our splendor, the spirit of rebellion & potential and the forgetting of one’s self.

The concept of the album is based on my personal experiences from recent years. It talks about the disintegration of illusion, and building one’s mental and spiritual arsenal by drawing from the source of power of the Black Flame.  

TIBM: You’ve incorporated more elements of melody along with a soulful approach to soloing compared to your 2022 “Kosmocide” LP, which was more aggressive and streamlined. What inspired this distinct change in style?  

Necrosodom: Writing music for this album, I opened wide the gate of inspiration that had been calling me for years. I grew up on old Hard Rock and Heavy Metal, and since my early Elementary School years, such music has been constantly with me. Hence the love for pure riffs and sound.

On “Thanatos”, I wanted to reach further, beyond the elements of style that had defined us so far. Using a wider range of means of expression gave me a sense of true artistic freedom without looking back. For this reason alone, I consider “Thanatos” the most mature album we have recorded and a big step forward. So, the echoes of Hard Rock that can be heard here are a direct reference to the style that has always been the foundation of my musical development. I was aware that I was risking a lot by weaving such ideas into Deus Mortem, but the temptation to enter this realm was stronger than common sense.  

Deus Mortem’s Thanatos Cover Art

TIBM: How would you describe the engineering/recording process for the new material?  

Necrosodom: It wasn’t easy at first. Right after we started recording the drums, we had to find a session drummer, and it was only by a miracle that we managed to finish the session successfully. We owe a huge debt of gratitude to Paweł Jaroszewicz, who saved our asses and did a masterful job.

Later, we encountered a big technical problem with the drum tracks, which was the studio’s fault. Solving this problem took many weeks and significantly delayed the whole process. Fortunately, the remaining stages of recording took place at Heinrich House Studio, and it was pure pleasure. The effects of this cooperation can be heard in “Thanatos”. It is the best-sounding Deus Mortem album to date.  

TIBM: What does the future look like for Deus Mortem?  

Necrosodom: Next year, we have a few festivals and concerts to play in Europe, and in the meantime, we are slowly starting to write new material.  

TIBM: Do you have a message for the horde?  

Necrosodom: Hail Satan!

TIBM: Thanks for your time!