France's Seth - a veritable black metal institution whose vision for BM has been of both beauty and culture, but also of worldwide religious downfall. The catalyst to it all? The Notre Dame blaze as detailed in their previous album, "La Morsure Du Christ" and continuing on through to a revolution in their brand new LP, "La France Des Maudits". How does the French scene go underrated when its bands are this imaginative? Thank Scandinavia, but nonetheless, Seth's music is a celebration of black metal's oft-overlooked elegant side. "Like shooting an ambulance…" A different perspective regarding viewing Christianity for me, and a very wise one if I do say so. During my latest interview, Saint Vincent and Heimoth of Seth provide some insight into their views on Christianity, the nefarious Second Wave Norwegian church blazes, and into their latest album, "La France Des Maudits".

Jeger

People don't realize this but Seth has been a French black metal institution since 1995. How would you describe the early French scene and what were your main influences going into your musical journey?

Heimoth: The French scene was rather ignored at the time. There were very few bands who were all too concerned with evilness to the detriment of the quality of the art they played. That means our influence did not come from France, but rather from other regions like Scandinavia.

Not safe to assume that all black metal bands hate Christianity…

Let's fast forward to your 2021 album, "La Morsure Du Christ", which saw the band in a rejuvenated state and detailed anti-Christian concepts. The cover depicts the infamous Notre Dame Cathedral blaze. I generally get a variety of different answers to this question, but what is it about Christianity that you detest most and why have you chosen to relay that message through SETH's music?

Saint Vincent: I didn't write the lyrics as a hateful statement against Christianity. I'm aiming to capture the spirit of the times. I was raised Catholic, and I saw the continuous demise of this religion. We used the image of the Notre Dame blaze because it was iconic and it epitomized this spiritual downfall. Useless to hate Christianity, it would be like shooting an ambulance.

I guess I am getting old… Feels like it was just yesterday when I read about Varg Vikernes and his treacherous hooliganism. Inspiration for the hordes…

How did you feel about the nefarious Norwegian church fires of the Second Wave? Many black metal bands voiced open support for these "acts of war".

Saint Vincent: I'm too old now to consider these fires as "acts of war" without smiling. However, back in those days, these acts were fueling the passion and the energy we were discovering in black metal music: Intensity and insanity. This was boiling my young teenage blood with fantasies. The intensity of the music was crossing the path of imagination and getting real.

You've just released a great new album in "La France Des Maudits" again via Season Of Mist. Judging by the title of the album, its curses were dealing with this time around. How would you describe the concept of the new record?

Saint Vincent: The former album "La Morsure Du Christ" depicts the downfall of spirituality in the Western World as epitomized by the Notre Dame fire. The album's last track is "Le Triomphe De Lucifer" (The Triumph of Lucifer); announcing the light of Lucifer given to all the cursed people, so they can rise in strength. The new album, "La France Des Maudits", is the direct sequel of the former album and its last track. The album deals with the rise of all those cursed people who want to overthrow their oppressors and rebel against the fatality they were trapped in.

What did you do differently as far as songwriting and recording compared to your previous album?

Saint Vincent: On the lyrical side, I used the same techniques - writing everything in French Alexandrines - a classical stylistic figure in French poetry.

Heimoth: Why would we have to do things differently? More seriously, we were happy with the process of the previous album, so we went along the same pattern of writing and recording. We are getting used to doing things that way, and it did help since familiarity brings - most of the time - better results. So, basically the whole writing process happened at my place in Paris, and most of the recording took place in Studio Sainte Marthe, Eastern Paris.

What does your live ritual schedule look like in support of "La France Des Maudits"?

Saint Vincent: We are going to tour across Europe with Rotting Christ and Borknagar in October. Other events and festivals like Inferno in Norway are being announced.

The new album, just like your previous one, happens to be pristinely produced. As we all know, some black metal bands feel a stripped-down approach to product is the only way. How do you feel about this tradition and why have you chosen to embrace more modern techniques?

Heimoth: It is modern without sounding too modern, and that's what we wanted. From day one, in 1996, our first Mini CD, "By Fire Power Shall Be", we embraced the technologies of the time; something we've always done. However, with that one, we tried to make sure to sound a little more raw as well and improve on the drum sound for example. The problem with raw BM is that most bands sound the same right now, even with analog vocal sounds. I consider this album the best achievement we've made production-wise because it sounds powerful while not too artificial and with a good balance between all the instruments at stake.

France is most certainly known for its rich art culture and Seth has proven to be purveyors of that culture as expressed through the timeless art of black metal. Crusty basement black metal in the City of Lights? Not likely…

There's an air of elegance to Seth's music that I directly correlate with the artful nature of the French scene. What is it about French culture (art, literature, ethos, etc.) that inspires you the most?

Saint Vincent: I appreciate your remark, as we care about this aspect. The lyrics are inspired by French poetry, and I paid homage to Charles Baudelaire on this album with the first track, 'Paris Des Maléfices', dedicated to him. I wanted to clearly name him as he was an inspiration for a couple of texts in the former album "La Morsure Du Christ". Obviously, we are inspired by French art in general: paintings, culture and we always care to keep a subtle touch of French elegance.

"Just yesterday…" Life's greatest travesty is how time flies by faster as you grow old. But even as Seth stands today as middle-aged men on the other side of the hump, their art is newborn, etched in stone, timeless and proud.

What's been the most memorable thing that's happened to you during your career so far?

Heimoth: Good question. I guess the most astonishing must be the longevity of the band under activity. I started when I turned 15, and I feel like it was just yesterday, so it's a strange feeling to see that the continuity of your life has been something that you built yourself and is still alive today more than ever.

Every true artist's plight…

What's the most valuable lesson you've learned in all your years as an artist/black metal musician?

Saint Vincent: Art is a blessing and a curse. It feeds you with the highest joys while eating you alive. 

Do you have a message for the horde?

Heimoth: Never surrender to what you think is best for you.

Saint Vincent: Merci.