Interview: Aklash (Written)

Brit progressive black metallers, Aklash, are braced to release their engulfing new album, ‘Reincarnation’, which arrives on Thursday 20th June. The dark lords also release the single and video for the album’s namesake, Reincarnation, on Thursday 13th June.

1. Hello! Thank you for taking the time to chat to us. First things first, tell us a little bit about yourself and how you got started.

Aklash started in 2010 after Nico and our previous guitarist attended a Wolves in the Throne Room show in Brighton.

In 2022, after a creative hiatus and the tribulations of COVID, a lineup restructure brought a new life to the band, so the upcoming release Reincarnation is almost like a new begging for the band, with fresh ideas and attitude.

2. Someone comes to you and asks you to sum up what kind of music you play – what do you tell them?

We actually always have a hard time answering this. Our music is grounded in black metal but we take a few musical risks. There is a range of influences that can be considered folk, melodic or Avant guard.

3. What’s currently going on in your camp? New releases? Tours? Etc.

We are currently in the midst of releasing out next LP Reincarnation. Babylon our first single was released a few weeks ago and we’ve been getting great feedback, hopefully the next single and the album will have a similar reception, out on June 13th and 20th respectively.

4. What has been the most positive experience of making music to date for you?

Being on the road as a band is always the best part of this journey. We are first and foremost, friends so all the hours we spend in the car are always some of the most enjoyable moments.

Obviously presenting our work live to our fans also brings us infinite enjoyment. Seeing people connect with our music brings a lot of meaning to what we do.

5. Likewise, what has been some of the more challenging aspects and how have you overcome them?

I think the financial burden of being in a band is always one of the biggest difficulties. We strive to be professional and to deliver something we are proud of to all to all of our fans, which comes with great sacrifices from all of us. Everyone one of us has taken many responsibilities to keep the band independent and moving forward.

6. How do you handle the modern expectations of being in a band? Always online, having to put out content constantly, your success measured in likes and follows?

I think that the modern challenges of the music industry are something that all of us in the scene take on because it is how we grow as bands and get new people to find our music, but not a lot of us are fans of keeping an online presence to this extent. However, the close knit circle we developed with our fans because of it is something that we value greatly.

7. What’s something that really ‘grinds your gears’ about the industry/business these days and what would you propose is done to combat it?

Mostly how streaming companies are controlled by major labels that don’t give musicians a fair share of their revenue, and how that is pushing so many of us into a even harder situation.

The decline of physical formats created a new opportunity on the age of information, but we don’t think that the musicians are getting most of the benefits of this exchange.

8. Speaking directly to listeners – what would you ask they do to help support your music?

Attend local shows, buy merch, talk to your favourite underground bands and show your support. I think we all appreciate a word of encouragement for the people who care about what we do

9. Outside of the music, what’s do you do to relax?

I think time in nature is definitely an important activity for every one of us, but equally we are all big fans of science fiction and hearty Indian food.

10. Where can people find you?

We are on all the social media and streaming platforms and play shows all over the country so feel free to come see us and say hello. Next appearance will be our album release show in our home town of Brighton, on the 22nd of June where we will play Reincarnation in full.

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