Thantifaxath
A band cloaked in mystery and anonymity, Thantifaxath is a band that pushes the idea of what black metal can be. With epic and complex arrangements, the band strives to deliver a heavy but beautiful combination of art and black metal in their sound. Since the band’s 2014 debut Sacred White Noise, the band made a name for themselves as someone to keep an eye on and a band that was not afraid to step outside of the box with the genre. With punishing atmosphere, dark nihilistic lyrics and a sound all of their own, that album put the band on the map as a band to watch. Their second album, Hive Mind Narcosis in 2023 advanced their sound even further and expanded the band’s creativity and sonic delivery. With the band gaining high praise for the album and showing the true evolution of the band’s unmitigated onslaught of emotional, diverse and complex style of black metal.
I sat down with the band to talk about the band’s history and their writing process for their music. We discuss the band’s writing process, the plans following the band’s summer tour, and an update on if there is new music on the way.
FMP: How did Thantifaxath form?
Thantifaxath: About a decade ago, somebody asked us to put together a band that could play in cloaks as a part of an art show. We put together a set in a very short time (a week or two) . That set was first performed and then became the first Thantifaxath E.P. which we then put online. It was later discovered by Dark Descent Records and properly released.
FMP: Can you explain the origin of the band's name and why it fits the band's sound?
Thantifaxath: The name stood out in a list of names in a book full of Qliphothic mythology. When it was chosen, I didn't know what it meant, but it sounded right. That's the best explanation I can give. The meaning itself turned out to fit well with the aesthetic and music but I didn't find that out till later.
FMP: With the band's debut album Sacred White Noise in 2014, the atmosphere of that record was otherworldly and captivating. What was the writing process and direction you had for the debut?
Thantifaxath: The writing process was like vomiting, searching through the vomit on your hands and knees and finding a few gold coins strewn throughout. But most of it is still vomit and some blood. Then. you use the gold coins to go buy food that makes you sick so you can vomit more. The direction is rarely clear until it is finished. Finding that direction is like trying to find your way out of a pitch black forest on a moonless night. You don't know where you're headed until you get there, and you're covered in cuts and bruises when you finally do.
FMP: The band's newest album Hive Mind Narcosis came out in 2023 with the band pushing themselves even more with the album. What did you want to do differently with this album compared to Sacred White Noise?
Thantifaxath: Id like to mention that there is a record between those two records called Void Masquerading as Matter. It's a 35 minute piece of music that came out in 2017. It to us. is every bit as important as the other records. What did we do differently on the latest release? Nothing, the process was exactly the same. I assume the next one will be too. The process that feels most honest to me is listening to what wants to come out at the moment it appears and capturing it as quickly as possible. Then later refining it, sorting out what it means, and finally seeing how it compares to the latest Beyoncé record.
FMP: Hive Mind Narcosis ended up on a lot of Best of 2023 lists and gained the band new press and tours with big name bands. Were you surprised by the huge acclaim the album received?
Thantifaxath: I knew some people would like it, but I thought it would be less accessible than our last 3 records. So yes, we were surprised by the reaction.
FMP: You are about to embark in an awesome summer tour with Goatwhore and Vitriol starting in August, what can fans expect with this tour and the band's set?
Thantifaxath: We are playing set roulette. Expect the unexpected.
FMP: Following this tour, will the band begin working on new material or still touring in support of Hive Mind Narcosis?
Thantifaxath: Not sure. We have new material already, but it doesn't feel like a complete statement yet.
If there's another pandemic after our next 2 tours, expect new material fast.
FMP: You perform with so many unique bands and genres like Car Bomb, Bell Witch, and the bands on this upcoming tour. Is there any bands/artists you'd love to tour with that?
Thantifaxath: I mentioned Beyoncé earlier. If we could tour with her, that would be great. Though the full original lineup of Destiny's Child would be ideal.
FMP: The band chooses to remain anonymous with both names and images withheld. With Thantifaxath, and other acts like Gaerea, Portal, Uada and Mgla, why is black metal today deciding to shroud themselves in secrecy?
Thantifaxath: I can't speak for any of the bands you mentioned. I think as I've said in multiple interviews in the past, for us it doesn't mean much of anything beyond just taking the focus off the individual and on putting it on the music. It doesn't feel very profound. It just feels right. Maybe that's what's profound about it. form?
