Please tell us about the history of your band and its members.
Vith - All text, instruments, vocals & recording
2008:
June - Pestilent Grave conceived and created by Vith
July - First demo "Black Majesty Invoked" recorded and handed out to a few individuals
August - 5 track E.P. "Esoteric Blasphemy" recorded
2009:
August - "Esoteric Blasphemy" released on Svartgalgh Records - 3" mini-CD; limited to 50 hand-numbered copies
Winter - Work begins on a new release "A New Aeon Under Satan"
2010
June - "Black Majesty Invoked" re-released on Zwaertgevegt - tape; limited to 66 copies
December - Recording on "A New Aeon Under Satan" completed
2011
January - "A New Aeon Under Satan" released on Zwaertgevegt -tape; limited to 66 copies
How would you describe your style? Which bands influenced your music?
The early material was raw, aggressive, brutal Black Metal, but the new material is steadily progressing in a much slower, colder, more ethereal, doom-laden direction. In the start I was mainly influenced by bands like Deathcult, Dead-era Mayhem, Hellhammer, Burzum, Craft, Bilskirnir, LLN, Master's Hammer, Amon Goeth...and so on. Lately I find bands such as Coldworld, Deathrow, Forest, Alatyr, Xasthur gaining a greater influence on me than they have done in the past.
Why should a metalhead buy your demos/albums?
My music serves as therapy for me above anything else, and I will keep making music for as long as I have the inspiration, whether people want to buy it or not. So I'm not going to tell anyone why they should, or shouldn't, buy my shit. If it has an affect on you or appeals to you that's great.. then go ahead and buy it if you wish, if you don't like it then fuck off and listen to something else for all i care.
What have you released so far and how were your releases received by the public/media?
I have released 2 track demo tape, a 5 track E.P. and this new 6 track full-length. So far all have received a lot of postive feedback.
Do you play live as well? How's your live activity so far?
I have never played live, and I do not plan to anywhere in the forseeable future. Maybe in time I might think about getting some session members together to play a gig or two. Right now I really haven't given it much thought at all, as i'm still very much focused on writing & recording.
What sould labels/zines/promoters know about your band? Why should they be interested in it?
I'm pretty skeptical and cynical about everything these days, hence why I prefer to work alone. In the past i've dealt with a number of fucking losers who did not fulfill their promises or who did a half-assed job, the labels & zines I deal with now have all earned my trust and respect over time, which is not easy.
What plans do you have for the near future as a band?
I'm already working on a fourth release, which is shaping up to be a lot different from the previous ones. This new tape "A New Aeon Under Satan" is really the end of an era regarding the sound and direction of this project, and a new one will soon be ushered in...
Where can we listen to your band and where can we buy your stuff?
"A New Aeon Under Satan" is available through Zwaertgevegt here: www.zghol.blogspot.com/2010/12/zwaertgevegt-017-pestilent-grave-new.html
I have created a site for the project where people who are interested enough will be able to find links to a few tracks and info to contact me for trades etc: www.pestilentgrave.blogspot.com
February 2011