Worm of Charnel Valley speaks out

Having recently issued their debut "The Dark Archives" through Paragon Records, Charnel Valley display an affinity for the raw and primitive sounds of early black metal. With their next outing, "The Igneous Race" slated for release in 2006, the duo is definately making an impact in the extreme metal underground. Worm of Charnel Valley recently spoke to The Gauntlet and a brief excerpt of the conversation follows, wherein Worm articulates his position on the manner in which black metal should be presented...

The Gauntlet: It is apparent that you set out to create an album that is intentionally both harsh and primitive. Why did you choose to go this particular route with the group and also, with the music that we hear on the record in specific?

Worm: We are both fans of primitive and simplistic music. I get so much more out of a good hook in a song, or a handful of well written riffs than I do with technical musicianship and perplexing song structures. Black metal is ½ song, ½ sound. The sound is very important to possess the listener with that harsh sense of tension in the production, which allows the dissonance and atmosphere contained in the riffs to further enchant or destroy. I feel black metal should make the listener think of times long since past with lo-fi values and minimal equipment. Too much technology and equipment somehow affects the overall presentation with more of an evolved tone. The future is a curse. At least in the past, we can sew our memories and feelings into a life-sculpting weapon.